Thread of Paradoxes: Make Your Head Explode!

[EnumaElish]

Contrary to http://jyte.com/cl/a-paradox-is-not-a-pair-of-ducks.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Does anyone know why Tsu's photo says "Physicsforums" on it?

Now that is a real paradox! [a pair o'docs and a paradox]. Tsu said she has no idea how that happened.

 

[WaveJumper]

Contrary to http://jyte.com/cl/a-paradox-is-not-a-pair-of-ducks.

You are a paradox?


No really, i agree with the above. The existence of the whole universe is a paradox. Reality is a paradox.

A better question - What is not a paradox?

We can't explain the universe and reality and so Everything is a paradox. This thread can stretch to infinity. Which is also a paradox.

 

[EnumaElish]

You are a paradox?

Actually I'm a Sagittarius, which is near the wild duck cluster (Messier 11). But a friend who's into astrology swears that I'm a Scorpio.

 

[Tsu]

This is mine...
http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.catalogcity.com/210000/210500/210515/Products/4981258.jpg

Well, so YOUR pair of docs have a last name. Big. whoop. Mine are LOTS cuter!

 

[Tsu]

Um, unless those AREN'T Doc Martin's. I have no style so I just assumed...

 

[EnumaElish]

From George Carlin's HBO presentation:

"Legally drunk"

"Undisputed fighting champion" -- if it's undisputed what's all the fight about?

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

Um, unless those AREN'T Doc Martin's. I have no style so I just assumed...

Yes they are.
And no worries, my idea of style is "These are comfy shoes. I think I will wear them with everything." ;-)

 

[lisab]

Yes they are.
And no worries, my idea of style is "These are comfy shoes. I think I will wear them with everything." ;-)

Wow, aren't they? I have to wear steel-toe boots at my work, and I wear Docs. Holy cow, are those the most comfy shoes you could put on you foot, or what? They are heavy, though...

 

[turbo]

Not so much paradoxes, but a couple of really incongruous observations at local businesses.

There is a paving company about 25 minutes from here that a couple runs out of their house. The house is a dumpy-looking place 'way back from the road on a rutted, muddy (unpaved, of course) driveway. When I first saw the sign there, I thought it was a little free advertising for the company that had been hired to do the paving. Nope!

There is another small business much closer that is run out of a house. Again, the house is a shabby-looking dump, poorly maintained, with a gravel drive, and a yard that consists of dirt and immobile vehicles - just a perfect eyesore. What does that guy do? His sign says that he does home renovations and remodeling. He may do great work, but judging from the condition of his own place, I doubt it.

 

[Chi Meson]

This is mine...
http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.catalogcity.com/210000/210500/210515/Products/4981258.jpg

I think I get this one: big big boots with thin-lugged city-walking soles.

 

[DaveC426913]

Not so much paradoxes, but a couple of really incongruous observations at local businesses.

There is a paving company about 25 minutes from here that a couple runs out of their house. The house is a dumpy-looking place 'way back from the road on a rutted, muddy (unpaved, of course) driveway. When I first saw the sign there, I thought it was a little free advertising for the company that had been hired to do the paving. Nope!

There is another small business much closer that is run out of a house. Again, the house is a shabby-looking dump, poorly maintained, with a gravel drive, and a yard that consists of dirt and immobile vehicles - just a perfect eyesore. What does that guy do? His sign says that he does home renovations and remodeling. He may do great work, but judging from the condition of his own place, I doubt it.

The Cobbler's kids have no shoes...

 

[lisab]

...and who among us can forget this pair of Dachs?

(...erm, they are Dachs, aren't they...?)

 

[turbo]

Flying dogs ! Eek!

 

[mgb_phys]

I think I get this one: big big boots with thin-lugged city-walking soles.

No
(Unless you are being ironic?)

 

[DaveC426913]

No
(Unless you are being ironic?)

He was pointing out a double-irony.
A pair a Docs that are, in themselves, paradoxical.

 

[Chi Meson]

He was pointing out a double-irony.
A pair a Docs that are, in themselves, paradoxical.

Why, yes. Of course I was. Certainly. I am so very clever, you know. Yep. Clever me!

 

[physics girl phd]

Flying dogs ! Eek!

This is the kind of flying dog I'd prefer... and two or more would be fabulous:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/files/2009/05/flying_dog_logo1.jpg

(Actually I'd really prefer the Gonzo Porter... but this is the classic image for the brewery.)

 

[Andre]

...and who among us can forget this pair of Dachs?

(...erm, they are Dachs, aren't they...?)

Well it's certainly a pair o' dogs.

 

[lisab]

Well it's certainly a pair o' dogs.

(Hmm...seems they're probably Miniature Pinschers .)

 

[Tsu]

Yes they are.
And no worries, my idea of style is "These are comfy shoes. I think I will wear them with everything." ;-)

That's called PERFECT style.

 

[jobyts]

I can resist everything except temptation.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Banks charging penalty fees for bounced checks - clearly the person doesn't have enough money in the first place.

With the economy in the tank, people may have more reason than ever to drink more alcohol, but they can't afford it. - Cafferty File

 

[TheStatutoryApe]

With the economy in the tank, people may have more reason than ever to drink more alcohol, but they can't afford it. - Cafferty File

A day of panhandling always makes the hooch taste sweeter.

 

[Huckleberry]

With the economy in the tank, people may have more reason than ever to drink more alcohol, but they can't afford it. - Cafferty File

The money for rent and food will go before the alcohol. That's why it is such a fun thing to tax and regulate.

That reminds me of something of a paradox. In Arizona I remember seeing drive through liquor stores. That's better than the European beer vending machines.

 

[jobyts]

Birthday paradox is not at all a paradox. It's just a mathematical property.

 

[redargon]

A guy goes up to a punk on the street and says: "Hey, show me what punk is."
The punk walks over to a dustbin and kicks it into the street, "That's punk!"
So the guy goes up to another dustbin and kicks it into the street, "That's punk?"
To which the punk replies, "No, that's trendy."

 

[Andre]

A very interesting one is the Abilene paradox, where a group of people do things what none of them would have done individually.

I think there is a whole world more to that.

 

[leroyjenkens]

Some snakes eat other snakes. That may not be a paradox, but it should be.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I would have to fiddle around a bit to remember the correct equation, but if one considers the volume and surface area for what is essentially a conucopia - I think you take the surface formed by taking the revolution of the equation f(x) = 1/x,. about the x axis, where x goes from zero to positive infinity - one finds that the volume is finite but the surface area is infinite.

Hence, you could fill it but you could never paint it.

 

[Danger]

Banks charging penalty fees for bounced checks - clearly the person doesn't have enough money in the first place.

That is so sick that it isn't even funny to anyone who has experienced it. When I retired from my locksmith business, I left $70 in the bank account since that, the cell phone, and my PO box were the only evidence of the company's existence. Less than a year later, I got a bill from the bank saying that I was overdrawn by $100 and they wanted it right now. They'd sucked the whole $70, plus an extra $75, in service charges on a dormant account, then tried to charge me a $25 penalty for being overdrawn. I went in, told them to **** themselves, and closed the account. I also closed my personal one and moved to a Credit Union. (I should point out that a lot of the people at that bank were/are friendly acquaintances of mine. They thought that it stunk too, and didn't even try to pursue collection. It was the institution itself that was to blame, not the employees.)